Sussex Academy in Georgetown was named a Reward School by the Delaware Department of Education Oct. 15. Seventeen schools in the state were given the state’s Academic Achievement Awards, its top academic honor for best performance or growth on test scores.

Sussex Academy was one of only two schools in the state that was recognized as a Reward School for showing either elite test scores or major gains despite having a high percentage of low-income students. According to Lt. Gov. Matt Denn, Sussex Academy had the top test scores in the state for not only middle schools, but for all schools.

The schools honored each received a banner and $50,000. Each school gets to decide how the money is used. On Oct. 10, Sussex Academy was also awarded the IDEA Award for Excellence in Academics from the Delaware Charter Schools Network. The award honors schools with consistently high levels of student achievement.